Focus on Colorcoat Prisma

Colorcoat HPS200 and Colorcoat Prisma products were key to making a success of a large extension to the Focus DIY logistics centre.

Architect practice The Harris Partnership has been involved in the completion of a major new logistics centre for Focus in Tamworth.

Clad in two pre-finished steel products from Corus, the colour and durability of the Colorcoat HPS200 and Colorcoat Prisma products were key to making a success of this vast project.

This large extension to a DIY logistics centre involved the construction of a 20,900m2 warehouse, along with office and staff amenity accommodation.

The building completes a major redevelopment of the site.

The warehouse, which includes 27 loading bays, is on a vast scale.

The original intention was to clad the building in products which matched two other structures on the site, but these materials were no longer available.

The use of Colorcoat HPS200 and Colorcoat Prisma pre-finished steel allowed The Harris Partnership to create a building which has a textural and colour relationship with the older buildings, but which also manages to establish its own contemporary identity.

At the beginning of the design process Carrel specified Colorcoat HPS200 for both the walls and roof of the new building.

However, the project coincided with the launch of the new Corus Colorcoat Prisma pre-finished steel product.

In collaboration with the Corus Colors Business Development team, which provided timley on-site advice, Carrel became convinced that Colorcoat Prisma would allow him to establish a closer relationship with the existing buildings on the site.

Carrel was also attracted by the Corus Confidex Guarantee that would accompany the product "at no additional cost to the contract".

The Confidex Guarantee offers the most comprehensive guarantee available for pre-finished steel; for Colorcoat Prisma it can provide peace of mind for up to 25 years.

The final decision was to specify Colorcoat Prisma in two colours (Oyster and Slate) for the walls, employing Ward's Mini-Rib system in widths of 600 and 900mm.

This cladding system benefits from a tongue and groove concealed fixing solution which allows panels to be laid horizontally or vertically.

Colorcoat HPS200 (in colour Goosewing Grey) was retained for the roof of the building.

In this instance, Ward's IP1000 trapezoidal profile product was employed, secured to steel liner trays.

The project proceeded smoothly - not least because of the on-demand help from the Corus Colors team, says Carrel: "There was extremely good co-ordination between the main contractor and sub-contractors, and excellent and timely advice from Corus Colors.".

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